For years now I’ve championed the idea of saving up for the best work boots you can possibly afford. I’ve been an electrician for over twenty years and learned this lesson the hard way- I got my first work boots out of a dumpster.
There is no “perfect work boot”
Since then, I’ve owned dozens of work boots, both cheap and expensive and feel qualified in making some recommendations to you. This guide is difficult to make since most work boots are designed for a specific function. There is no such thing as the all-purpose perfect work boot since conditions and tasks vary widely.
Some boots have a waterproof sock liner for working in wet conditions, others are designed to be as lightweight as possible, some for electrical hazards, and others to resist sparks and welding slag. So take the following as a general guide in broad terms, but always follow the safety guidelines of your specific job.
Tier 1: “Good” Work Boots
At this level you can expect boots made of lower-tier leather or synthetic textiles designed to be as durable as possible, often at the expense of finishing or design. A lot of synthetic components like the midsole, heel counter, and toe are to be expected along with cemented construction in many cases. These are the kind of boots which greet you with an overwhelming smell of adhesives and chemicals when new rather than the smell of leather.
Affordable work boots are a gamble though, and even though most work boots under $200 will rely on synthetic materials, some brands do it better than others. One of my early videos on cheap vs expensive work boots detailed my experience with a horrible pair of Brahama work boots with little between me and the ground but a cheap leather sole and foam.
Often lower tier boots will cut corners where you can’t see it, like the midsole. Generally, some type of foam is used between the insole and outsole, poor examples use an industrial foam not unlike carpet underlayment, decent options will use Poron or similar engineered foam. This is important because inferior quality foam will compress and not give your feet the support they need. 8-hour days feel like 12 in boots like this, and fatigue is a dangerous thing when you’re working near hazards.
If boots like this are all you can afford, put some money aside for decent insoles at a minimum. Work boot insoles are available, but I would avoid gel inserts when possible. And don’t forget that most of these boots are all made in the same factory, just stamped with a different label and sent out the door. So, you may not see any improvement at all if you switch between brands at this tier.
Examples of good work boots:
- Georgia Boots
- Wolverine
- Ariat
- Danner (foreign)
- Chippewa
- Timberland Pro
- Caterpillar
- Carolina
- Silverado
- Keen Utility
- Jim Green Razorback
The best value work boots out there!
Tier 2: “Better” Work Boots
The middle tier is where most guys I know will end up buying their boots. $250-$350 goes a long way in work boots. Here you’ll find leathers which are as beautiful as they are durable, more natural materials or more thoughtful designs and components. Boots which can, and will be resoled since they’re worn for long hours in harsh conditions.
Boots at this tier usually need a fair amount of time to break-in since they’re more solidly constructed often with more and thicker leather. For most workers, even the most seasoned tradesmen, these are the boots most seen on the jobsite. Sometimes it doesn’t make much sense to spend more than $250-$350 on boots which see a ton of abuse or lots of grease and oil, making them unwearable after a year.
Synthetic materials at this tier are chosen for a specific purpose rather than a cost saving measure. While some boots are more traditional, some go the route of technical boots incorporating innovative materials and technologies to provide lightweight and tough work boots.
Examples of Better Work Boots
Tier 3: “Best” Work Boots
The best work boots in the world are those with careful design backed with decades of experience. Since there’s no one-size-fits-all best work boot due to the wide variety of conditions, its best to focus on companies with a rock-solid history of outfitting the men and women in your field.
For general construction it doesn’t get much better than the companies found in the pacific northwest where they’ve developed models based on wildland firefighting – some of the harshest conditions out there. They then took that knowledge and applied it to other boots for specific trades. At this level you’ll find thick leathers, tried and true design, and no expense spared in the quest to make (possibly) the last work boots you’ll ever buy.
These are the boots which only get better as you wear them. More interior leather components mean these boots mold to your feet over time for an almost custom fit. They can also be resoled multiple times, adding up to a cost per wear that’s even better than the budget boots. Some companies even have custom fit options where they will size the boots to your feet!
Wesco, Nicks, Whites, Franks, Drews, and JK round out the pacific northwest lineup, with similar designs but slight variation among them.
Canadas Viberg boots offer a monster nail-down constructed boot with a 1” triple midsole and 8oz leather with their 75x Lineman CSA. This is the most heavy-duty work boot I’ve ever seen, and it’s meant for people who need extreme support.
Examples of Best Work Boots
Some of the best work boots money can buy!
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